Astrodienst supports Dr. Beat Richner
Commitment to Kantha Bopha

Dr. Beat Richner

For many years, Astrodienst has supported Dr. Beat Richner's Kantha
Bopha Children's Hospitals in Cambodia. Every year, we donate a
considerable sum for this extraordinary and important project which
goes to help the mothers and children, the weakest and most defenceless
of Cambodian society. Dr. Beat Richner, pediatrician, founder and
director of the children's hospitals, is also known in Switzerland
by the nickname "Beatocello" because he regularly performs
in charity concerts with his cello to help to fund his children's
hospitals.

Last year, Astrodienst's president of board, Dr. Peter Isler,
spent a private holiday in Cambodia. His journey to Angkor also
lead him, more or less accidentally, to Beat Richner. Here his
impressions.

Journey
to Angkor

Mother and child on the boat.

"My wife and I visit the temples of the lost city
of Angkor in Cambodia. On our way to the art treasures, we pass
Jayavarman VII - one of Beat Richner's hospitals. Should we get
in touch and see what happens to the annual donations of Astrodienst?
But then this well-known pediatrician, who has saved the lives
of many thousands of children in Cambodia, has probably better
things to do than have coffee with us.

The next day we decide to go on to a fishing village on the Tonle
Sap lake instead of traveling to Angkor. Thus we rattle southward
on our motorised rickshaw. On our arrival in the fishing village,
a woman with a newborn in her arms approaches us and communicates
to us by sign language that she needs money to buy medicine for
her baby who is suffering from an eye disease. Giving money is
always a tricky matter as you never know how it will be used.

On the way to hospital

On the spur of the moment, we decide to invite the woman and her
child into our motorised rickshaw. She asks a friend to accompany
her and we drive straight back to Beat Richner's children's hospital.
There are already many other mothers and fathers with little children
in the waiting room. We leave the woman and promise to pick her up
in three hours' time to take her back. Everything goes well. The
baby has received expert treatment. The mother has been given clean
blankets and medication. I take her back to her boat. We hope the
little one is well.

The "waiting room" of the children's hospital. The patients
pick up numbers that determine the order in which they will be treated.

The baby on the way home.

Visiting
Kantha Bopha

Dr. Beat Richner (left) with Peter Isler.

While at the hospital I inquire about Beat Richner and whether
it is possible to meet him. I am told I could make an appointment
for Saturday after his public cello performance. I make an appointment
and Beat Richner does indeed appear after the concert for
a chat. He is interested in the fact that Astrodienst is a leading
company in astrology and is pleased that we support his work. He
spontaneously invites us to the opening ceremony of Kantha Bopha
V hospital in Phnom Penh, which is also attended by the King and
Prime Minister Hun Sen who has the real power in the country. We
change our plans so that we can attend the reception.

Official reception. To the left: Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Beat Richner's speech. The King is listening.

The King at the VIP stand.

Beat Richner greeting people.

Five
Hospitals

The people in green are the personnel of the operating theatre.

The five hospitals and Aids Maternité in Cambodia are run
with a budget of 24 Million Dollars. Medical care is free. More than
2000 people are employed by the hospitals. The only foreigners are
Beat Richner and a Frenchman who runs the laboratory. The rest are
Cambodian doctors and nurses who were educated locally. Every year
about 75'000 children are admitted to the hospital. About 800'000
children receive ambulatory treatment. 400'000 children are vaccinated,
16'000 operations are carried out, 12'000 births are accompanied
to prevent children from being infected with Aids or tuberculosis from
their mothers. About 3'000 families daily receive instructions on
health care.

The 24 Mio $ are raised as follows: the Cambodian government pays
2 Mio $, the Swiss government 2.5 Mio $. The rest is raised through
private donations.

We are happy that we can support this important project with our
regular donations. Peace on earth will grow as hardship and poverty
are eased. We are pleased to be able to contribute and wish Dr.
Beat Richner all the best for his untiring commitment to better
living conditions."

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